Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-08


wreath of ivy. On a stand at the head
was a wreath of ascension lilies, pansies,
candytuft and spirea. On the carpet at the
foot OF the casket which was upheld by ebony
rests, stood a floral cross of candytuft,
syringas and ferns. A table at the
right of the entrance upheld an anchor Of
heliotrope and rossbuds.
There was large number o! friends and
citizens in attendance, come to paw their
final tribute of respect and take q last
look at the grand old face. Among
those from tut If town were noticed
Governor Bodwell, DR.. H. p Torsey and
Mrs. Torsey OF Kent's Hill, Trustee d. O.
Bowen of Morrill,. Mrs. X. NJ Mills of Cali.
fornia, who was expected. did not arrive in
season tor the funeral. The mourners occu-
pied the northeast room, and the friends the
parlor, sitting and dining rooms.
VIM. X. Smith, Esq, conducted the funeral
The pail bearers were Hon. j. w. Brad
bury, Hon. John l.. Stevens, Hon. Joseph
Honan, Judge Samuel Titcomb.
The services were conducted in an impress
sive manner, by Rev. II. S. Whitman pastor
of the Winthrop street Universali,t church, of
which Mr.. Morrill, was member. The
choir, Messrs. C. B Johnson, ii. A. b.
Chandler and Miss Estelle L. Parke and Miss
Lu A. Quinby. was from the same church
The pastor stood in the hall and the singers
were close at hand. "Iwould not live AWAY
was a favorite hymn of the deceased and he
possessed amanuscript copy from the author.
This was rendered by the choir at the opening
of the services. The pastor read selections
of scripture from Corinthians, 18th chapter
Ii Corinthians, 9Th chapter ST. John, 4. Mr..
sive eulogy occupying half an hour. Fol-
lowing is an abstract:
know ye that there is prince and a
great man fallen this day in Israel" 2 Sam.
81 :38. These words were spoken of one of
the princes of the house of Israel. They re-
cur to us now with special emphasis as pecu.
larly applicable to him we mourn.
1t is not for me at this time to attempt q
critical snay ais of his life and character.
wish simply TO call to mind some of those
striking characterlst'cs which signalized him
among men. From the wreath of glory
which encircles his name, l may but call
here and there . flower, to bring as my
tribute to the memory of the great man that
has fallen.
| One could not come into his presence with
! out feeling that here was one of the strong
men of the earth. Indomitsble courage and
I resolution marked his whole career. Richly
endowed by nature with heart and brain of nc
ordinary calibre, he kept growing in strength
and beauty of character all his lite long
His mind was of that comprehensive grasI
which took in every side to question. Hence,
the superiority of his judgement, so broad
so strong, so unerring, as to carry great
weight and inspire the confidence OF men, He
was born leader of men.
By his rare natural capacity, by his supe-
rior judgment, by his executive force, by his
aggressive boldness he stood out before men,
II leader to be trusted and follow ed Even in
business his commanding ability was made
manifest, and very naturally the Maine Cen,
trail Railroad in its hour of distress, .urned &c
him as the one man to extricate it from fnan-
cial embarrassment. Nor did it appeal to
him in vain. With matchless skill ami won
derful executive ability he brought it out OF
peril and set it forward on the road to solid
prosperity.
Like all men who have done any thing for
the world he was a man of strong positive
convictions. He believed strongly from the
heart. And wheresoever his convictions led
him, he threw himself into the conflict with
| all the intensity and force of his being.
He was instictively right on all great moral
gu sstions and he threw the whole weight of
his strong character openly, squarely, IN
equviocally on the ride of right against the
wrong. You always knew just where TO find
hm--setting his face sternly and uuflinching-
ly toward the right-as God gave
him to see the right, irrespec
tive of the jeers or plaudits
of men. He was Just what he seemed to be
honest, open hearted, manly and true. "He
never brought his conscience to the public
mart; but lived himself the truth he taught.
white souled, clean handed, pure of heart y
1t was given him to come onto the stage of
action at most stirring time. 1t was at a
time when the evils of slavery and intemper-
ance were beginning to arouse against them
the conscience of the State. 1t was at such
an hour than Arson p. Morrill, stood forth ;
the leader of this aroused public sentiment.
Never did man and cause more truly fit. He
OF all men, by the strength of his character,
by the clesrness of his Judgment, by the su-
periority of his executive force, by the in
tensity and depth of his convictions, by the
aggressive earnestness of his nature, was the
one man to lead and inspire the aroused NOR
al force of his native State and make it such
tremendous power against the evil.
The speaker then went on to speak of his
strong positive religious convictions, laugh,
in the stern iron creed of a century ago. His
broad humane spirit found no rest till il
emerged into the clear sunlight of Gods eter-
nal, Unlimited love. He early found 10 the
| Uuiversslist church the congenial home for
his large faith. and to this church he gave
earnest sympathy and cordial support, with
unwavering fidelity and unfsgging interes
up to the very last, and his faith CLEANED
clear and bright to the end. In a note to
| Mrs Whitman, but two weeks before that
fatal stroke in acknowledgement of token Of
friendship received on the anniversary Of
his s4th birthday. he said, There
is no time in life when tokens of friendship
are so keenly enjoyed, as when we feel and
know that the sun has already reached the
western horizon. Thus in the midst OF kind
friends and with an abiding faith in God OF
infinite goodness, we wait the muffed oar
nor urge that twilight be long protracted
The speaker then dwelt upon the remark
able tenderness, the strong abiding friendship
of the deceased, and especially as displayed
in the home life. He never grew old. dc
always remained young in spirit. He exem
| nl;6aa in remarkable degree the words OF